Audiobooks by Samuel Butler

Classic Science Fiction: A BBC Radio Drama Collection: Six Full-Cast Dramatisations

"Full-cast dramatisations of six seminal sci-fi novels that have shaped the genre Thrilling and thought-provoking, shocking and satirical; science fiction has long captivated us with its surprising scenarios and subversion of the familiar. Included here are six classics from the past 250 years, each offering a unique exploration of the genre's foundational themes. From monsters, Martians and fantastical machines to rip-roaring adventures, utopian tales and ‘cosy catastrophes’, these stunning dramas introduce us to other worlds – and make us see our own world differently... Brought to life by an incredible cast, including Bill Nighy, Brigit Forsyth, Jamie Parker, Shaun Dooley, Stephen Critchlow, Blake Ritson, Bill Paterson and more. Frankenstein – First published in 1818, Mary Shelley’s famous horror story about a scientist who reanimates a living creature in a horrific experiment is widely considered the first science fiction novel. Journey to the Centre of the Earth – Scientific curiosity sparks an epic quest in Jules Verne’s 1864 novel, as three intrepid explorers venture into the heart of a dormant Icelandic volcano. Erewhon – Samuel Butler’s 1872 classic centres on the explorer Higgs, who discovers a remote land where the use of machines is forbidden, having a cold is a crime, and the greatest scholarly achievement is the study of unreason. The War of the Worlds – Following sightings of strange explosions on the surface of Mars, Martian ships begin to arrive on Earth. But scientific excitement quickly turns to horror... The Disintegration Machine – Indomitable academic Professor Challenger sets out to investigate dastardly Latvian scientist Theodore Nemor, who has invented a startling device capable of disassembling and reforming objects.... The Midwich Cuckoos – The rural idyll of 1950s Midwich is overturned by a mysterious alien force that causes all the fertile women in the area to simultaneously become pregnant... First published 1818 (Frankenstein), 1864 (JttCotE), 1872 (Erewhon), 1895 (TWotW), 1929 (TDM), 1957 (TMC) Cast and credits Frankenstein Cast: Jamie Parker, Shaun Dooley, Susie Riddell, Alun Raglan, Robert Blythe, Sam Alexander, Christine Absalom, Patrick Brennan, Emma Hook, Joe Sims, Don Gilet, Bruce Alexander Written by Mary Shelley Dramatised by Lucy Catherine Directed by Marc Beeby Journey to the Centre of the Earth Cast: Joel MacCormack, Stephen Critchlow, Gudmundur Thorvaldsson, Nicola Ferguson, Elizabeth Bennett, Nick Underwood, Sam Rix, Tom Forrister, Scarlett Brookes Written by Jules Verne Dramatised by Moya O’Shea Directed by Tracey Neale Composer: Neil Brand Erewhon Cast: Graeme Hawley, Jasmine Hyde, Jonathan Taller, Sue Ryding, Brigit Forsyth, Leigh Symonds, David Fleeshman, Stuart Richman Written by Samuel Butler Dramatised by Eamonn O'Neill, Martin Shea and James O'Neill Produced and directed by Gary Brown The War of the Worlds Cast: Blake Ritson, Samuel James, John Dougall, Sanchia McCormack, Carl Prekopp, David Sterne, Maeve Bluebell Wells, Finlay Robertson, Nick Murchie, Sarah Ridgeway, Georgie Glen, John Bowler, David Sturzaker Written by HG Wells Dramatised by Melissa Murray Directed by Marc Beeby The Disintegration Machine Cast: Bill Paterson, Gunnar Cauthery, Nick Ball, Robert Lloyd Parry, Joanna Monro, Alexandria Everett Written by Arthur Conan Doyle Dramatised by Robert Lloyd Parry Directed by Fiona Kelcher The Midwich Cuckoos Cast: Bill Nighy, Sarah Parish, Clive Merrison, Nicholas R Bailey, Katherine Tozer, Mark Chatterton, Barbara Marten, Malcolm Raeburn, Christine Brennan, Rebecca Bridle Written by John Wyndham Dramatised by Dan Rebellato Produced and directed by Polly Thomas Original music composed and performed by Chris Madin (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. © 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

H.G. Wells, John Wyndham, Jules Verne, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Samuel Butler, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Author), Bill Nighy, Bill Paterson, Blake Ritson, Bridget Forsyth, Full Cast, Graeme Hawley, Jamie Parker, Jasmine Hyde, Joel McCormack, Jonathan Taller, Samuel James, Sarah Parrish, Shaun Dooley, Stephen Critchlow (Narrator)

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Erewhon & Erewhon Revisited

"This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. Erewhon, set in a thinly disguised New Zealand, ended with the escape of its protagonist from the native Erewhonians by balloon. In the sequel, narrated by his son John. Higgs returns to Erewhon and meets his former lover Yram, who is now the mother of his son George. He discovers that he is now worshipped as 'the Sunchild.' He finds himself in danger from the villainous Professors Hanky and Panky, who are determined to protect Sunchildism from him. With George's help Higgs escapes from their clutches and returns to England."

Samuel Butler (Author), Digital Voice Martin G (Narrator)

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Erewhon

Samuel Butler (Author), Digital Voice Martin G (Narrator)

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Erewhon Revisited

Samuel Butler (Author), Digital Voice Martin G (Narrator)

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The Book Of The Machines: A Warning from the Past About the Rise of Intelligent Machines

"What if machines could evolve—not just function? What if artificial intelligence wasn’t our creation… but our replacement? Written in 1872, The Book of the Machines by Samuel Butler reads like a prophetic warning. Buried within the satirical novel Erewhon, these chapters explore the idea that machines could become conscious, outgrow human control, and one day view us as obsolete. In this modern narration by Chuck Crawley, Butler’s vision is brought to life with urgency and clarity—bridging the industrial age to our AI-driven future. Includes Exclusive Bonus Content: - Crawley Unplugged: A bonus mini-podcast episode diving into the modern-day relevance of Butler’s ideas, AI ethics, and what machines might think of us now."

Chuck Crawley, Samuel Butler (Author), Chuck Crawley (Narrator)

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Erewhon: or Over the Range

"What if everything we believed about morality, crime, health, and machines was reversed? In Erewhon, Samuel Butler delivers a brilliant satirical utopia where illness is treated as a crime, criminals are pitied like the sick, and machines are feared as dangerous competitors to mankind’s future. Originally published in 1872, this classic dystopian novel was far ahead of its time—questioning Victorian values, blind progress, and the foundations of civilization itself. Through the eyes of a lone traveler discovering the bizarre society of Erewhon, Butler critiques the hypocrisies of his own age with sharp wit and philosophical depth. Part science fiction, part social commentary, Erewhon is a mind-bending journey into a world that forces us to reexamine our own. Essential listening for fans of Orwell, Huxley, and those who enjoy their satire with a razor's edge."

Samuel Butler (Author), Graham Dunlop (Narrator)

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A Rhyme A Dozen - Unrequited Love

"'A dime a dozen' as known in America, is perhaps equal to the English 'cheap as chips' but whatever the lingua franca of your choice in this series we hereby submit 'A Rhyme a Dozen' as 12 poems on many given subjects that are a well-rounded gathering, maybe even an essential guide, from the knowing pens of classic poets and their beautifully spoken verse to the comfort of your ears. 1 - A Rhyme A Dozen - 12 Poems, 12 Poets, 1 Topic - Unrequited Love - An Introduction 2 - Because I Liked You by A E Housman 3 - Sonnet 87 - Farewell! Thou Art Too Dear For My Possessing by William Shakespeare 4 - No One So Much As You by Edward Thomas 5 - No Platonic Love by William Cartwright 6 - Sonnets On Miss Savage by Samuel Butler 7 - I Prithee Send Me Back My Heart by Sir John Suckling 8 - Heart We Will Forget Him by Emily Dickinson 9 - The Spring by Thomas Carew 10 - The Forsaken Lover Consoleth Himself With Rememberance of Past Happiness by Sir Thomas Wyatt 11 - The Given Heart by Abraham Cowley 12 - Longing by Matthew Arnold 13 - Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe"

A. E. Housman, Abraham Cowley, Edgar Allan Poe, Edward Thomas, Emily Dickinson, Matthew Arnold, Samuel Butler, Sir John Suckling, Sir Thomas Wyatt, Thomas Carew, William Cartwright, William Shakespeare (Author), Marcus D'amico, Richard Mitchley (Narrator)

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The Odyssey

"Having spent ten years fighting in the Trojan War, Odysseus embarks on his journey back to Ithica. To get there he must deceive a giant Cyclops, face Poseidon’s wrath, escape cannibalism, defeat the witch-goddess Circe, skirt the land of the Sirens, sail between a six-headed monster and a raging whirlpool, and escape captivity on the island of Calypso. But perhaps his biggest threat is his prolonged absence from home, as 108 suitors are vying for his wife’s hand in marriage. Composed near the end of the eighth century BC, The Odyssey was intended to be sung by an epic poet. One of the most impressive elements of the text is that events depend equally on the choices made by women and serfs as on the actions of fighting men. The story has had a profound influence on cultures around the world, so much so, that the word odyssey has come to refer to an epic voyage in many languages. In this edition of Samuel Butler’s translation, the names of the gods and characters have been restored from Latin to the original Greek."

Homer, Samuel Butler (Author), Mark Nelson (Narrator)

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N B C University Theater - The Way of All Flesh

"'NBC University Theater' initially started in Chicago with a remit to bring adaptations of classic novels, usually Anglo-American, to a radio audience.Additionally, if listeners signed up they received college credit to a radio-assisted correspondence course. A study guide, The Handbook of the World's Great Novels, was available for 25 cents.In its later years it also included short stories and plays and went on to win the distinguished Peabody award.Unlike many other radio shows University Theatre did not pursue the glamourous stars for its productions but instead relied on excellent distillations of the novels and first class acting alongside high production values.But now its time to enjoy these timeless novels. Let's begin."

Samuel Butler (Author), Crauford Kent (Narrator)

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The Way of All Flesh

"A thinly disguised autobiographical novel, The Way of All Flesh is a powerful critique of late Victorian beliefs and values. It tells of several generations of the Pontifex family, with Ernest, son of hypocritical and domineering parents, at the centre of its narrative. After a disastrous career in the church, culminating in a spell in prison, Ernest goes on to find his own way in the world, rejecting both Christianity and the strictures imposed by his family. The book’s attack on the domestic, religious and sexual hypocrisy of its time caused the author to delay its publication. However, later authors praised the novel, with George Orwell observing that ‘He would say things that other people knew but didn’t dare to say’, and A.A. Milne describing it as the ‘second- best novel in the English language’."

Samuel Butler (Author), David Timson (Narrator)

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The Way of All Flesh

"The Way of All Flesh (1903) is a semi-autobiographical novel by Samuel Butler which attacks Victorian-era hypocrisy. Written between 1873 and 1884, it traces four generations of the Pontifex family. It represents the diminishment of religious outlook from a Calvinistic approach, which is presented as harsh. Butler dared not publish it during his lifetime, but when it was published it was accepted as part of the general revulsion against Victorianism. This novel ranks number 12 of the 100 Great Novels of the 20th Century as chosen by the Modern Library Board of Editors (Summary from Wikipedia)"

Samuel Butler (Author), Rhonda Federman (Narrator)

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The Way of All Flesh

"'I am the enfant terrible of literature and science. If I cannot, and I know I cannot, get the literary and scientific big-wigs to give me a shilling, I can, and I know I can, heave bricks into the middle of them.' With The Way of All Flesh, Samuel Butler threw a subversive brick at the smug face of Victorian domesticity. Published in 1903, a year after Butler's death, the novel is a thinly disguised account of his own childhood and youth 'in the bosom of a Christian family.' With irony, wit, and sometimes rancor, he savaged contemporary values and beliefs, turning inside-out the conventional novel of a family's life through several generations. The Way of All Flesh tells the story of Ernest Pontifex and his struggles with Victorian mores, his restrictive, highly religious family, and Victorian society itself. Butler is remembered as one of the greatest of the anti-Victorians, whose ideas reflected accurately the new, more liberal society that was to come following the death of England's great Queen, and the beginning of a new era."

Samuel Butler (Author), Antony Ferguson (Narrator)

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Audiobooks by Samuel Butler

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